Doctors are warning that embarrassment about naming elements of the feminine anatomy is placing ladies’s well being in jeopardy.

Dr Aziza Sesay mentioned the hyper-sexualisation of girls’s our bodies and anatomy “perpetuates the taboo, stigma and embarrassment”.

She mentioned it may result in ladies not getting the medical assist they want.

There can also be concern that youngsters who’re taught euphemisms might be taken much less severely if they’re abused.

NHS GP Dr Sesay creates social media content material to assist educate ladies and break down limitations round language, however says doing so could be difficult.

She mentioned: “I’ve experienced censorship because as soon as you spell the word vulva, vagina or clitoris clearly in your caption, be prepared to not have much engagement because the algorithm automatically assumes that it’s something inappropriate or pornographic.”

Even easy line drawings of the feminine anatomy could be given a “sensitivity cover” on-line – the place persons are warned the picture is perhaps “graphic or disturbing” earlier than they’ll view it.

Dr Sesay added: “Your ‘lady bits’ – your vulva, your vagina, your clitoris, your labia, your inner labia, your outer labia – is nothing to be ashamed of.

“It’s simply a part of your regular anatomy, identical to your head, shoulders, knees, and toes.”

She said a lot of women’s health conditions are often considered benign – meaning they’re not life-threatening – but that she disliked the term as it minimised “how a lot it is going to have an effect on somebody’s life”.

Non-urgent care suffered following the pandemic, with increasing numbers of people waiting years to be seen.Since summer 2022 the picture has improved, with just under 8,000 women currently waiting more than a year for their first gynaecology appointment in Wales – though there has also been a rise in paying for care.

Dr Sesay is one of a number of women’s health specialists who are due to appear at Cardiff’s Everywoman Festival on 24 June, where topics will range from periods to menopause.

Dr Michelle Olver, an NHS consultant in sexual and reproductive health and menopause specialist who will also be speaking at the festival, said it was not only patients who can feel awkward with language.

“One of the signs of the peri-menopause and the menopause is vaginal dryness, vaginal itching and discount in libido, and they’re all closely intertwined,” said Dr Olver, who works for Aneurin Bevan health board in south east Wales.

“Women who’ve very sore vaginas aren’t going to need to have intercourse.

“But there are studies to suggest that healthcare professionals find it difficult to discuss sexual intercourse and exactly where in the vagina it hurts.

“To be fairly graphic generally is definitely useful for the affected person. So if we, as healthcare professionals, are struggling to speak about sexual operate it will be very troublesome for ladies to come back ahead to debate these items.”

She said lot of her work aimed to break down that stigma with healthcare professionals.

The festival is the brainchild of colorectal surgeon, Julie Cornish, who works for Cardiff and Vale health board.

She mentioned “embarrassing” symptoms are all too often never discussed.

“It’s not unusual to see sufferers who waited 10, 15 years with signs,” she said. “It’s obtained to the purpose the place they’ve needed to cease working, or their relationship has damaged down.

“People retire early, they stop working or stop socialising. And that delay often means it’s more severe. They might need surgery rather than simple physiotherapy, dietary tricks or modifications that could’ve worked so easily early on.”

The pageant is her method of opening up these conversations, although she added that alongside confidence in elevating points was the necessity to develop companies.

“I think that in certain groups in society there’s definitely been empowerment and a willingness to speak up and say ‘I’m not happy with this, I want help’,” she mentioned.

“But there are definitely communities within Wales where it’s still an issue. It’s still a barrier.

“I’m actually passionate concerning the topic. It’s actually key for my daughters.

“Going forward I want them to be able to live in a world where they can have the conversations. Where they can have access to services and don’t accept a poor quality of life.”